John Culp was named Director of Sports Medicine in October 2024 and will be working primarily with the men’s basketball and women’s lacrosse programs while also serving as the NCAA Athletics Health Care Administrator.
Culp joins New Haven after serving as the Head Athletic Trainer at Lock Haven University (Commonwealth U-Lock Haven) in Pennsylvania since July 2023. He worked with football, women’s swimming, women’s wrestling, and baseball there. Prior to LHU he worked at Franklin Pierce University caring for athletes on tennis, men’s ice hockey, women’s rowing, and men’s lacrosse teams.
He was the Head Athletic Trainer at American International College for 14 years working primarily with the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey team but provided care for most of AIC’s other teams during his tenure there including wrestling, football, lacrosse, tennis, rugby, and baseball. He oversaw five athletic trainers as well as strength & conditioning personnel. He implemented many improvements for athletes at AIC such a new athletic training facility, on campus physician clinics, and neurocognitive testing for concussion management. He coordinated the return of athletics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before AIC Culp served as the Head Athletic Trainer at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire caring for many teams during his 13 years there. He taught courses in the CAATE-accredited athletic training education program as well as served as Program Director for 2 years. He has also worked as an athletic trainer at Plymouth State University, New England College, SUNY-Cortland, Catalina HS (AZ), and LSU.
Originally from Ohio he has resided mostly in New England since 1990. He graduated in 1987 from Ohio Northern University majoring in sports medicine, sports management, and health sciences. He earned an MS in Exercise & Sports Sciences at the University of Arizona from the accredited advanced athletic training education program.
He currently resides in Waterbury, CT.
